Conservation Department Offering Kayaking Classes

The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer free kayaking lessons this summer. Essentials of River Kayaking will teach basic skills on flat water, followed by a river float to focus on maneuvering in moving water. A separate beginner Kayaking clinic will focus solely on flatwater paddling skills.

The Essentials class will be the night of Thursday, July 15th from 6:30 until 8 at Phillips Lake Park in Columbia, and will be followed by a day-long river trip on the Big Piney on July 17th. The Beginner class will be the night of Wednesday, July 28th from 6:30 until 8 at the Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area. Both programs are free and open to registrants age 13 and older. Children younger than 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult. For more information, contact Conservation Educator Sam Stewart at (573) 815-7900, extension 2926, or e-mail [email protected].

Essentials of River Kayaking
Flatwater class at Phillips Park Lake, 5050 Bristol Lake Parkway, in Columbia.
Thursday, July 15, 6:30-8 p.m.
River trip on the Big Piney River in Pulaski County
Saturday, July 17, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
*Participants must attend the flatwater class to attend the river trip.
Register at mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178081

Beginner Kayaking
Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area, Peabody Road, north of Columbia
Wednesday, July 28, 6:30-8 p.m.
Register at mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/178073